Wow SONNYV, first an implied character flaw, now aspersions on my ethics. All in a thread in which I initially replied by complimenting you and making clear that my dissent from the opinions offered by you and Dave were intended as respectful.

Well, I think we have done away with the notion that selling/buying the coupon books is illegal. Let's look at why I don't believe that it is unethical either.

Ethics pertain to duties that we as a civilized society have to one and other. Now, by buying these coupon books, instead of earning them, no laws have been broken, nothing has been stolen from the rightful recipient, and in using the coupons the issuer has received the benefit intended by the issuance of the coupon, viz., casino coupons require that you go to the casino where RCI knows that you will probably gamble money in excess of the match play coupon, same with bingo. And, gift store and wine discounts require that you buy something in order to receive the discount. So, the issuer hasn't been deprived of anything. Now, the issuer can certainly refuse to honor the coupon if the "rules" that it has ascribed to the use of the coupons aren't followed. However, if the issuer chooses not to enforce its own rules, then a concious choice has been made by the issuer to allow their use despite the rules. Finally, people who have "earned" the coupons aren't deprived of anything that they have "earned". You still get your coupons, and you still get to use them. What ethical duty has been violated? Who has been wronged?

I think that takes care of the legal, character and ethical arguments. Next?

As I said yesterday, this thread has gotten needlessly out of control. Obviously we have to camps here - those who see no problem with selling the books, and those (which includes me) who frankly just don't like it. Well, I guess there is a third camp - those who think the other two camps are getting too emotional over this. This last camp is probably correct.

So - I propose that we all go on with our daily lives and walk away from this thread. We are not going to solve anything and this thread is not going to get any better. Sonny and I will look forward to our next RCI cruises and our C&A perks. Kingfisher can go forward with dispensing legal advice, and Ohio Soccer Mom can buy whatever she wants. And Ken and the others can sit back and laugh at us.